Showers Wednesday Ahead of Heavy Rain, Storms from Zeta

A warm front is lifting across the area today increasing the amount of moisture across the region. Highs will reach the low 70s with a few showers through the afternoon. Hurricane Zeta is forecast to make landfall as a category 2 hurricane near New Orleans late this afternoon. This storm will move rapidly through the southeast. With the center of Zeta passing over the Appalachians into central Virginia Thursday morning. Impacts locally will begin tonight with steady, heavy rain likely Thursday morning. The track of this storm puts us in the sweet spot for isolated severe weather- damaging wind gusts and quick spin-ups. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph will be possible Thursday afternoon with the greatest threat for embedded tornadoes coming during the morning hours. A flash flood watch has been issued for the mountains and foothills as 2-4″ of rainfall will be possible over the next 36 hours with 1/2″ of rainfall possible across Piedmont.

A cold front will pass through the region Thursday night with breezy and cooler weather in store Friday. Temps will continue to drop through the weekend with highs not getting out of the upper 50s on Halloween. Slight rain chances return Sunday with even cooler weather to fall next week. Our first frost of the season will likely be early next week as overnight lows fall into the mid-30s.

Today: PM Showers. High: 73 Wind: SW 5 mph

Tonight: SE 5-10 mph Low: 65 Wind: SE 5-10 mph

Thu: Showers/Storms. High: 79 Wind: S 20-25; G35

Thu PM: Showers/Storms. Low: 56 Wind: SW 10-15; G20